Ask any fan of a certain age who the definitive companion is, and you’ll get one name. Sarah Jane Smith. It doesn’t matter that she first stepped into the TARDIS in 1973. It doesn't matter that she left in 1976. She is the gold standard.
She wasn't just a sidekick. Honestly, she was the first one who felt like a real person with a life outside of screaming at monsters. Elisabeth Sladen brought something to the role that hadn't really been seen in Doctor Who before: a genuine, investigative curiosity that mirrored the audience's own. She was a journalist. She had a job. She had opinions.
Most companions before her were there to ask, "What is it, Doctor?" Sarah Jane asked, "Why are you doing that, and is it legal?"
The Journalist Who Redefined the TARDIS
When Sarah Jane Smith first appeared in The Time Warrior, she was sneaking into a top-secret research facility. She wasn't some damsel in distress waiting for a hero. She was literally breaking the law to get a story. That set the tone for everything that followed.
Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor was a bit of an establishment figure—he worked with UNIT, wore velvet capes, and drove a vintage car. Sarah Jane was the perfect foil because she was a bit of a rebel. She challenged him. Then, when the show transitioned to Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor, the chemistry shifted into something legendary.
It was a partnership.
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They weren't just a time traveler and his assistant; they were best friends. They laughed. They bickered like siblings. If you watch Genesis of the Daleks, you see the depth of that bond. It’s widely considered one of the best stories in the show’s history, not just because of the Daleks, but because of how Sarah Jane reacts to the moral weight of the Doctor’s choices. She was his conscience.
That Heartbreaking Departure in 1976
The way she left the show is still a sore spot for fans. In The Hand of Fear, the Doctor gets a summons to Gallifrey. Humans aren't allowed there. He basically tells her she has to go, drops her off in what he thinks is South Croydon, and leaves.
It was abrupt. It was cruel.
Sarah Jane’s final walk away from the TARDIS, carrying her suitcase and looking back with a mix of sadness and "fine, then," is iconic. But here’s the thing: most companions disappear into the ether once they leave. They get married off or stay in a parallel universe. Sarah Jane didn't. She stayed in our heads because it felt like she was still out there, somewhere in Ealing, investigating weird stuff.
The 2006 Return and The School Reunion
When Russell T Davies brought Doctor Who back in 2005, he knew the show needed its history. Bringing back Elisabeth Sladen in the episode School Reunion was a masterstroke. It wasn't just fan service. It was an exploration of what happens to the people the Doctor leaves behind.
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Seeing her face off against Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) was brilliant. It addressed the "ex-girlfriend" dynamic head-on. But the real emotional gut-punch was her conversation with the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant). "You were my world," she tells him. That line resonated because for many viewers, she was the show.
The success of that episode proved that Sarah Jane Smith wasn't just a nostalgic relic. She was a powerhouse. This led directly to The Sarah Jane Adventures, a spin-off that managed to be genuinely scary and heartfelt, proving she could carry a show on her own shoulders without the Doctor standing next to her.
Why She Actually Matters Today
We talk a lot about "strong female characters" now. It’s a bit of a cliché. But Sarah Jane was doing it decades ago without making a big deal out of it. She was brave, but she also got scared. She was smart, but she made mistakes.
She showed that being a companion wasn't a temporary gig; it was a fundamental change to your DNA. Once you’ve seen the stars, how do you go back to writing local news? You don't. You keep fighting.
Key Facts Every Fan Should Know
- First Appearance: The Time Warrior (1973).
- Last Regular Appearance: The Hand of Fear (1976).
- Total Episodes: She appeared in over 80 episodes of the original run.
- The K9 Factor: She was gifted a version of the robotic dog, K9, which became her long-term companion in the spin-off K-9 and Company (the first-ever Doctor Who spin-off pilot) and later The Sarah Jane Adventures.
- The Final Goodbye: Elisabeth Sladen passed away in 2011. The show paid tribute to her with "The Sarah Jane Adventures: Farewell, Sarah Jane," written by Russell T Davies.
The Legacy of Elisabeth Sladen
It is impossible to separate the character from the actress. Lis Sladen brought a warmth and a "regular person" energy that grounded the sci-fi craziness. She didn't play it like a genre show. She played it for real.
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When she died, the entire Doctor Who community felt it. It wasn't just losing an actor; it felt like losing the Doctor’s best friend for real. Even now, the show continues to reference her. In the 60th Anniversary specials and Ncuti Gatwa’s first season, the impact of the "Sarah Jane era" is still felt in the way companions are written. They are no longer just observers; they are the heart of the story.
How to Experience the Best of Sarah Jane Smith
If you're new to the classic era or just want to revisit her best moments, skip the filler and go straight for the essentials. Start with The Time Warrior to see her introduction—it's surprisingly modern. Then, watch The Ark in Space. It’s claustrophobic, terrifying, and shows her grit.
Of course, Genesis of the Daleks is mandatory viewing. It’s basically the Citizen Kane of Doctor Who.
After that, jump to the modern era's School Reunion. It hits differently once you've seen her younger self. You see the years in her eyes, but also the same spark.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch "The Sarah Jane Adventures": Don't let the "kids' show" label fool you. Stories like The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith (featuring David Tennant) and Death of the Doctor (featuring Matt Smith) are essential lore.
- Listen to Big Finish: There are numerous audio dramas where Sladen reprised her role, adding layers to her life between her 1976 exit and 2006 return.
- Visit the official Doctor Who YouTube channel: They often post restored clips of her era in 4K, which makes the 1970s production design look surprisingly vivid.
Sarah Jane Smith wasn't just a character. She was the moment the show grew up. She taught us that even if the Doctor leaves you in the wrong suburb with a heavy suitcase, you don't stop adventuring. You just find your own TARDIS.